Steele scores career-high 21 points as Mississippi St wins 3rd straight, beating Georgia 72-61

Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) dives for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

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Georgia forward Donte' Williams (15) is fouled by Mississippi State forward Roquez Johnson (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Athens Banner-Herald, Richard Hamm) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

ATHENS, Ga. – Jalen Steele scored a career-high 21 points, Craig Sword added 14 and Mississippi State won its third straight game with a 72-61 victory over Georgia on Saturday.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 16 points for Georgia, but the fourth-leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference went 0 for 6 from the field in the second half.

Steele's consecutive 3-pointers gave Mississippi State (7-7, 1-1 SEC) an 11-point lead, its biggest of the game, with 5:02 remaining.

Charles Mann added 14 points for Georgia (6-9, 0-2), which was coming off a 33-point loss that was its worst Florida since 1967.

Georgia, which has dropped two straight games, got reserves Donte' Williams and Kenny Gaines from one-game suspensions levied by coach Mark Fox for breaking unspecified team rules.

But their return made little difference in helping the Bulldogs avoid their second straight loss.